Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Upgrade your BRAIN
something like exercising every day or quitting snacking. And break it down into small, simple steps.
Remember, if you’re persistent you can achieve it. And if you’re consistent you can keep it.
What you eat matters so nourish your brain by eating a healthy diet. Ask yourself if the food you eat is energising or depleting you. Then find recipes using brain-boosting foods such as avocados, blueberries, broccoli, dark chocolate, eggs, green leafy vegetables, salmon and walnuts.
The HEAR method stands for Halt, Empathy, Anticipate, Review, and you can use it when listening to a talk or a speaker you want to learn from.
Halt any distractions such as music or your phone buzzing with text alerts. Empathise by imagining yourself in the speaker’s shoes. If you understand where they’re coming from, it’s much easier to absorb what they are saying. Anticipate what they might say so you are fully engaged. And afterwards review and reflect on what was said.
MOM (motivation, observation, methods) will boost your memory.
If you meet someone new, what is your motive for remembering their name and what do you observe about them?
Remember, having a good memory is about attention not retention.
Practise memory techniques, such as remembering people’s names by associating them with something.
Assign names to strangers you see and test how many you can remember.
Reading is great exercise for your mind. You can download decades of experience by reading just one book.
So set a daily reading goal, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. The key is consistency. Pick a book you’ve been wanting to read, set a timer for 10 minutes and put away all distractions. And schedule time each day. Put it in your calendar as an appointment with yourself. Limitless, by Jim Kwik, priced £20 from Hay House UK
Heart attack deaths rose by 40 per cent during lockdown, and experts fear the ‘Stay at Home’ message deterred thousands from seeking medical help.
Hospital admissions for heart attacks dropped in April and May in England, with around 2,000 fewer patients treated.
The data, gathered by the University of Leeds, also suggests more Brits died from the most mild forms of heart attacks.
Doctors are being advised not to prescribe common painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to patients with chronic pain that is not caused by an injury or other medical conditions.
Instead, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends antidepressants, acupuncture or psychological therapy should be offered to patients who have been taking the medication long-term.